Remote-control for starting internal combustion engine



March 10, 1964 P. SIBERT REMOTE-CONTROL FOR STARTING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Aug. 28, 1961 INVENTOR. PORT ER S l BERT s w 1 .EDUE U m wPm/qhw l S h W 5, ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,124,118 REMOTE-CONTROL FUR STARTING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Porter Sibert, 30 Lake St., Slpring Valley, NY. Filed Aug. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 134,429 9 Claims. (131. 123179) This invention relates to remote-control means for starting an internal combustion engine.

Normally, an internal combustion engine, such as used in automotive vehicles, requires an initial warming up period before the engine is operating under optimum conditions. Thus, the engine is usually started and allowed to idle for a short time interval to allow the engine to attain its operating temperature. Accordingly, the driver must sit in the car during such time interval. Such inconvenience is aggravated in cold weather when the vehietc is located in an unheated garage and the vehicle heater does not become fully operative until the engine has reached its maximum operating temperature.

t is accordingly desirable to be able to start the vehicle engine prior to entering the vehicle; and more particularly, to control the starting operation from a point remote from the vehicle as from within the residence of the vehicle driver. Thus the vehicle engine could be started and warmed up before the driver actually enters the vehicle.

It has been proposed to provide systems for starting vehicle engines before the driver actually enters the vehicie. Thus, preset timers have been suggested which automatically start the engine at a predetermined time. However such a system is inflexible since it is necessarily controlled from a clock. Furthermore, the system must be preset in advance of its actual operation, which introduces another factor to be taken into account and possibly affecting the flexibility of the system.

It has also been suggested that a direct electrical connection be established between the vehicle and the control means at a remote point, to thereby start the engine. However, the system must be disconnected before the vehicle can be driven away from the point of electrical connection. Also, it has been proposed to make a contact connection between metal parts of the vehicle, such as the bumper or the like, and opposed fixed portions of an electrical control circuit. This necessarily involves precise alignment of the vehicle and the fixed circuit contacts; and also may prove to be hazardous in terms of electrical shocks and sparking, giving rise to possible fire hazards.

It is accordingly, a general object of this invention to provide a control system for starting a vehicle engine from a remote point, wherein there is no direct electrical contacts between the vehicle and the control circuit.

A further object of this invention is to provide a remotecontrol starting system which comprises a minimum number of components, which may be readily installed on the vehicle; which is of relatively simple construction and economical to manufacture.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawing, the single figure is a circuit diagram of the remote-control starter system embodying the invention.

In the figure there is shown the conventional battery 10 which supplies current to the usual starter circuit 12 of an automotive internal combustion engine including the usual intake manifold 14 and an ignition system 16. The starter circuit 12 includes the usual solenoid and other components, not shown, while the ignition 16 includes the usual coil and associated elements, not shown. The remaining elements of a conventional automotive combustion engine, are not shown, to simplify the illus- 3,124,118 Patented Mar. 10, 1964 tration of the essential portions thereof relating to the invention.

Control apparatus is provided for starting the engine from a point remote therefrom, allowing the same to operate for a determined period of time to warm up, and then automatically turn off the same. Such apparatus comprises a photoelectric device 18 having terminals 20 and 22, said device being of the type which becomes conductive when the active element thereof is suitably illuminated. Also, there is provided a relay 24 having a coil 26 with normally open contacts 28; a vacuum responsive switch 34) coupled by a conduit 32 to intake manifold 14, with contacts 34 which are open under vacuum conditions in the manifold 14 and are closed in the absence of such a vacuum.

The control apparatus further includes a motor 36 energized from battery 1%, whose shaft 38 makes a single revolution in a predetermined time interval, say 5 minutes, and rotates a cam 40; which in turn operates ganged switches 42, 44 and 46. When cam 40 is in its rest position, as shown, the contacts of switches 42 and 46 are open and the movable contact 48 of switch 44 engages fixed contact Sil thereof. When cam 40 is off its home position, the contacts of switches 42 and 46 are closed and contact 48 is shifted to fixed contact 52 of switch 44.

The control apparatus operates as follows. Assume that the engine is cold and the device 18 is not illuminated. Under these circumstances, there is an open circuit between terminals Zli, 22 of device 18; relay 24 is deen ergized leaving its contacts 28 open; and there is no vacuum in manifold 14, leaving contacts 34 of switch 30 closed. Also, cam 49 is in its home position, leaving switches 42, 46 open and switch 44 with its contact 48 engaging contact 5% Means is provided for illuminating device 18. To this end, a control circuit 54 with a switch 56 and energized from a source 53; includes a lamp 60 which is fixed in a position, as on a garage wall or the like, to align the same with the photoconductive device 18 which is suitably mounted on the grille of the automotive vehicle, not shown, when such vehicle is in its garage or other storage means. Switch 56 may be located at a point remote from the garage or the like, as for example, in the residence of the vehicle user.

When the engine is to be started, switch 56 is closed to illuminate lamp 6% and thus make device 18 conductive to pass current from battery 10 to relay coil 26 by way of lead 61, switch contacts 43, 50 and lead 63. Motor 36 is simultaneously energized by battery 10 by way of device 18 and leads 61, 64. Current is supplied to the starter circuit 12 by way of leads 65, 66 and relay contacts 28. The engine will be turned over and started.

Almost simultaneously, cam 4t) is driven off its home position, causing switches 42 and 46 to close and switch contact 48 to shift to contact 52. At this time, current is supplied to the ignition system 16 by way of leads 65, 67, 68 and 69, and switch 42; while motor 36 is energized through leads 65, 67, 68 and switch 46, and lead 64. Accordingly, motor 36 is no longer dependent on device 18, for its current supply. Similarly, the operation of the starter circuit 12 by way of relay 24 is controlled by vacuum switch 30.

Thus, with the engine turning over to provide vacuum conditions in manifold 14, switch contacts 34 are open and circuit 12 remains deenergized. However, if the engine should stall during its starting period, absence of vacuum conditions in manifold 14 will close contacts 34 to energize relay 24 from battery 10 by way of leads 65, 67, 70, switch contacts 43, 52; and lead 63. Accordingly, the engine may be restarted during the warming up period after the same has stalled.

At the end of the single revolution of motor shaft 38,

over a predetermined time interval, say 5 minutes; cam 40 will be back at its home position. Switch 42 will be open to effectively shut off the engine and switch 46 will be open to stop motor 36, it being understood that lamp 60 is only energized for an instant when switch 56 is operated. Contact 48 is returned to engage contact 50, making the energization of relay 24 dependent on the conductivity of device 18.

If for any reason a long time period should elapse after the initial warmup period before the operator actually uses the vehicle; switch 56 may again be momentarily closed to reinitiate the warmup cycle, as previously described.

It is understood that the control system of the instant invention, does not in any way interfere with the normal key operated system of starting the vehicle engine; the connections between the battery, starter circuit and ignition system being of the usual character.

As various changes might be made in the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed without departing from the spirit thereof, it is understood that all matter herein shown or described shall be deemed illustrative and not limiting except as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Control apparatus for remotely controlling the starting of an internal combustion engine having electrically operated means for starting the engine and a battery for energizing said starter means, said control apparatus comprising a photoelectric device in circuit with said battery and said starter means and fixed illuminating means for passing current from said battery to said starter means in response to illumination of said photoelectric device by saidilluminating means.

2. In combination, fixed illuminating means and con trol apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine having electrically operated starter means, a battery for energizing said starter means and an intake manifold, said control apparatus comprising a photoelectric device in circuit with said battery and said starter means for passing a current from said battery to said starter means when said photoelectric device is illuminated by said illuminating means, vacuum operated switching means mechanically coupled to said intake manifold and in circuit with said battery,'and transfer switching means responsive to the flow of current through said photoelectric device for disconnecting said starter means from said battery via said photoelectric device and connecting said starter means via said vacuum operated switching means to said battery.

3. Control apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine having a battery, electrically operated starter means, an ignition circuit and an intake manifold, said control apparatus comprising a photoelectric device conmeeting said battery to said starter means for passing current from said battery to said starter means upon illumination of said photoelectric device, vacuum operated switching means coupled to said intake manifold, and control means having a first state and a second state, said control means when in said first state being responsive to the flow of current through said photoelectric device to shift to said second state for disconnecting said starter means from said battery via said photoelectric device and connecting said starter means via said vacuum switching means to said battery and for connecting said battery to said ignition circuit, and said control means returning to said first state after a predetermined time interval for disconnecting said starter means from said vacuum switching means and reconnecting said starter means to said photoelectric device and for disconnecting said ignition circuit from said battery.

4. Control apparatus for remotely controlling the starting of an internal combustion engine having a battery, electric starter means and an intake manifold, said apparatus comprising a photoconductive device having first and second terminals, electrically operated switch means for connecting said battery to said starter means, a vacuum operated switch coupled to said manifold and operative to pass a current in the absence of vacuum conditions in said manifold, motor driven cam means having a predetermined period of rotation, first and second cam operated switch means operatively disposed with respect to said cam means, said second cam operated switch means being operative when said cam is in one position to pass current in a first circuit, said first and second cam operated switch means being operative when said cam is in any other position to pass current in a second circuit, circuit means connecting one terminal of said photoconductive device, said vacuum operated switch and said first cam operated switch means to said battery, circuit means connecting the other terminal of said photoconductive device to one end of said first circuit of said second cam operated switch means, circuit means for connecting one end of said second circuit of said second cam operated switch means to said vacuum operated switch, circuit means for connecting the second cam operated switch means to said motor, circuit means connecting the other ends of said first and second circuits of said second cam operated switch means to said electrically operated switch means, and circuit means connecting said motor to the other terminal of said photoconductive device for initially energizing said motor.

5 Control apparatus for remotely controlling the starting of an internal combustion engine having a battery, electrically operated starting means, and an intake manifold, said apparatus comprising a photoconductive device having a pair of terminals, a relay having a coil and a pair of normally open contacts, a vacuum operated switch coupled to said manifold and having a pair of contacts which are open under vacuum conditions in said manifold and closed in the absence of vacuum conditions in said manifold, a rotatable cam, a motor for driving said cam through a single revolution thereof in a predetermined time interval, a first cam operated switch having a pair of contacts, a second cam operated switch having a pair of fixed contacts and a movable contact shiftable between said fixed contacts, said cam operated switches being operable by caid cam in one position thereof to open the contacts of said first cam operated switch and to shift the movable contact of said second cam operated switch to one fixed contact thereof, and being operable by said cam in any other position thereof to close the contacts of said first cam operated switch and to shift the movable contact of the second cam operated switch to the other fixed contact thereof, circuit means connecting one contact of said relay, one terminal of said photoconductive device, one contact of said vacuum operated switch and one contact of said first cam operated switch to said battery, circuit means for connecting the other contact of said relay to said starting means, circuit means for connecting the other terminal of said photoconductive device to the first mentioned fixed contact of said second cam operated switch, circuit means connecting the other fixed contact of the second cam operated switch to the other contact of said vacuum operated switch, circuit means connecting the other contact of said first cam operated switch to said motor, circuit means connecting the moving contact of said second cam operated switch to the coil of said relay, and circuit means connecting said motor to the other terminal of said photoconductive device for initially energizing said motor upon illumination of said photoconductive device.

6. Control apparatus for controlling the starting of an internal combustion engine having a battery, electrically operated starting means and an intake manifold, said apparatus comprising a photoconductive device, a relay operated switch in circuit with said battery and the ignition circuit, a vacuum operated switch coupled to said manifold and in open circuit under vacuum conditions in said manifold and in closed circuit in the absence of vacuum conditions in said manifold, a rotatable cam,

, a motor for rotating said cam through a single revolution in a given time interval, first and second and third switches operable by said cam, circuit means connecting said first switch between said ignition circuit and said battery, circuit means connecting said second switch between said motor and said battery, circuit means connecting said third switch between said relay and said battery via said photoconductive device in one position of said cam and circuit means connecting said third switch between said relay and said battery via said vacuum operated switch in any other position of said cam.

7. Control apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine from a remote point, said engine including a battery and electrically operated starting means, said control apparatus comprising a photoconductive device in circuit With said battery for passing current from said battery to said starting means upon illumination of said photoconductive means, illuminating means in opposed relation to said photoconductive device, and circuit means controllable at said remote point for energizing said illuminating means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,791,699 Taylor May 7, 1957 2,825,851 Lidiak Mar. 4, 1958 2,952,782 Woyden Sept. 13, 1960 OTHER REFERENCES International Combustion Engines, by Lichty,

McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1951, 6th edition. 

1. CONTROL APPARATUS FOR REMOTELY CONTROLLING THE STARTING OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE HAVING ELECTRICALLY OPERATED MEANS FOR STARTING THE ENGINE AND A BATTERY FOR ENERGIZING SAID STARTER MEANS, SAID CONTROL APPARATUS COMPRISING A PHOTOELECTRIC DEVICE IN CIRCUIT WITH SAID BATTERY AND SAID STARTER MEANS AND FIXED ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR PASSING CURRENT FROM SAID BATTERY TO SAID STARTER MEANS IN RESPONSE TO ILLUMINATION OF SAID PHOTOELECTRIC DEVICE BY SAID ILLUMINATING MEANS. 